“WooSox Mentors” Meet Children Today at Worcester’s Gates Lane Elementary School

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

Club partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Massachusetts and Worcester Public Schools to introduce latest community initiative.

WORCESTER, MA – The Worcester Red Sox have partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Massachusetts and the Worcester Public Schools to create the “WooSox Mentors” program with children at Gates Lane Elementary School at 1238 Main Street.

The program, launched today, includes 14 WooSox Front Office members who will mentor students once a week through the school year, continuing throughout the students’ rise through the Worcester Public Schools.

“So many of us are beneficiaries of impactful mentors, and so many of us have enjoyed serving as mentors to young people,” said WooSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “We recognize and realize that a regular visit with a smile, a kind hand, and a reassuring word can help fortify the self-esteem of a child—and what an honor it is to be able to do so.”

The school counts among its alumni the City Manager of Worcester.

“Not only do I have a soft spot for Gates Lane, where I attended elementary school, I know the value a program like this can have in the development of a young person,” said City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. “As someone who has benefited a lot from mentors, I am grateful our new neighbors, the Worcester Red Sox, are investing their time into becoming part of the fabric of our community and contributing to the growth and success of our youngest residents.”

“It’s great to see Front Office members from the WooSox making time for students in the Worcester Public Schools with baseball season right around the corner,” said Worcester Mayor Joe Petty. “I’d like to also thank Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass, and the entire staff at Gates Lane Elementary for helping make this exciting partnership possible. These students are going to benefit tremendously from the mentorship and guidance from leaders in the WooSox organization.”

“Thank you to the WooSox for their consistent and amazing support for Worcester Public School students,” said Worcester Superintendent Maureen Binienda. “The mentoring program with Gates Lane Elementary will make another positive difference in the lives of our students.”

“This is the story of everyday heroes! It is extra sweet that as much as kids look up to sports figures, this team and its Front Office members are saying ‘Yes’ to being a part of the lives of our Littles,” said Connie Ash, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Massachusetts. “Everyone at Big Brothers Big Sisters Central Mass – our staff, our board and our volunteers – are wowed and humbled by the WooSox’ commitment to our community, and to each and every one of these children.”

“The WooSox enjoy demonstrating that we’re more than just a baseball team, and this mentoring partnership is another shining example of that,” said WooSox Vice President of Baseball Operations & Community Relations Joe Bradlee. “We’re all looking forward to building relationships with the students at Gates Lane Elementary with whom we’ve been matched, and we give our sincerest thanks to all who have helped get this impactful program off the ground.”

Founded in 1963, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass has supported children in the community through individualized mentoring programs for over 50 years. The organization connects with children through strategic partnerships with local schools and youth development programs, along with the support of community volunteers, many of whom come from local colleges and corporations like the WooSox.

WooSox Announce Second Annual Polar Park Job Fair, Scheduled for this Saturday, Feb. 19, 10 A.M. – 1 P.M.

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

Club intends to fill part-time, seasonal positions by early March;

Opportunities within Ticketing, Concessions and Hospitality, WooSox Productions, Ballpark Operations, Mascots, and Merchandising;

All are welcome to virtual event.

WORCESTER, MA — In partnership with the MassHire Worcester Career Center, the Worcester Red Sox have scheduled their second annual Polar Park Job Fair for this Saturday, February 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The WooSox will host the event over Premier Virtual, allowing prospective employees to browse opportunities and connect with hiring managers instantaneously. Details are at woosox.com.

Within the next month, the club is looking to complete the hiring of the approximately 300 part-time, seasonal positions comprising vibrant, fan-centric individuals of all backgrounds. From local high school and college students aspiring to get a foot in the door of professional baseball, to casual fans searching for a secondary, summer, or retirement job, all are welcome to attend the Job Fair. The various departments hiring include Ticketing, Concessions and Hospitality, WooSox Productions, Ballpark Operations, Mascot Acting, and Merchandising.

The club also seeks friendly, energetic Parking Attendants, Ushers, Food Vendors, Cleaning Crew Members, Field Maintenance Workers, and Team Store Retailers. In addition, Polar Park Ambassadors conduct ballpark tours and assist with pre-game ceremonies and in-game promotional activities.

The WooSox Foundation also seeks to meet those who would like to volunteer for the club’s philanthropic arm.

College students seeking WooSox Internships can attend the Job Fair and should also send a cover letter and résumé to [email protected].

Those interested in participating may register at woosox.com and set up a profile in advance on Premier Virtual. Please submit questions to [email protected].

“A warm and welcoming environment is essential at Polar Park,” said club President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “Our diverse, inclusive event staff takes pride in ensuring that everyone feels welcome and that people from all walks of life come together as one to enjoy our National Pastime and the Wonderful World of Worcester.”

WooSox Foundation Establishes “Tyler’s Teammates” Program in Memory of Paxton’s Tyler Trudell

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

Partnership with Little Leaguer’s family will help provide equipment and registration for children to play ball throughout Central Mass.

Teammates, friends, and family of Tyler Trudell throwing a ceremonial first pitch at Polar Park on June 19, 2021.
Kate Foultz/Worcester Red Sox

WORCESTER, MA — In collaboration with his family, the WooSox Foundation is establishing “Tyler’s Teammates,” a program in memory of Tyler Trudell, the 13-year-old Paxton (MA) Little Leaguer whose unexpected death last May 13 shook his town and many others in Central Mass. Seeking to perpetuate the joy of the baseball-loving child, the program provides opportunity, equipment, and registration to regional youngsters who may not otherwise have the funds to partake in organized Diamond Sports.

Tyler’s family and teammates, with whom he played for eight years, will join Worcester Red Sox officials at Paxton Center School, this Monday, February 14, at 2 p.m. WooSox mascots Smiley Ball and Woofster the WonderDog will greet Tyler’s eighth grade classmates as well as his teammates, who will be commemorated as ambassadors of the program with custom T-shirts and certificates.

In Tyler’s memory, his mother, Lynn Trudell, has been crafting and selling bracelets with her devoted friends, and these proceeds are funding the program. In addition to being sold in Paxton at such locales as the Ten West Market at 10 West St. and online at ExercisingWell.com, the WooSox will offer these bracelets for sale at Polar Park, and add these proceeds to the program. Because Tyler sported jersey #2 after his favorite player, the Boston Red Sox’ Xander Bogaerts, Lynn asks all who purchase a bracelet to post a picture with “#2EverPresent” on social media.

“All of us with the Worcester Red Sox felt the loss of a little boy we didn’t even know,” said Dr. Charles A. Steinberg, who is President of the WooSox Foundation as well as of the WooSox. “Within hours of the news, we were moved to acknowledge his passing with a moment of silence. Several of us attended the wake, and we were touched by the sight of his teammates there in their Little League uniforms. The story and the people of Paxton touched us deeply.

“We were later inspired to learn that Tyler’s mom had been seeking to create something productive and constructive in a time of unimaginable grief, and we were touched even more so to learn of her family’s desire to help other little boys and girls experience the joy of playing ball that her son so loved. We are honored to be a partner with the Trudell family and all of Tyler’s Teammates.”

The WooSox plan to hold an equipment drive in early March, when aspiring ballplayers will be invited to Polar Park to pick out or donate equipment. In addition, the WooSox hope to honor “Tyler’s Teammates” and family at a “Paxton Day” home game at Polar Park this season. Program ambassadors will participate in ceremonies on the field and raise a flag in right-centerfield that displays the new, official “Tyler’s Teammates” logo.

Paxton Center School, part of the Wachusett Regional School District, accommodates students in Kindergarten through eighth grade. Tyler was a seventh-grader last year.

Those seeking information regarding donations and receiving equipment and registration funds may visit woosoxfoundation.org.

Black History Month – The 5 best Black players in WooSox/PawSox history

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”

Here is a look at five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for the WooSox/PawSox organization.

Sam Horn

Sam Horn was drafted by the Red Sox in the first round with the sixth overall pick in the 1982 draft out of Samuel Morse High School in San Diego, CA. In 1987 Horn had one of the best offensive seasons in Triple-A franchise history when he belted 30 Home Runs, 82 RBI, and hit .321 before getting called up by the Boston Red Sox in July of that same year. Horn would later hit another 10 Home Runs in his first 82 trips to the plate as a member of the Major League Club during the 1987 season. He was also a member of the Baltimore Orioles in 1992 during the Innaugural Season at Camden Yards, where he scored the first-ever run in the history of the new ballpark. Horn has always stayed connected with Larry Lucchino, who would later build Petco Park in San Diego before becoming President & CEO of the Boston Red Sox in 2002. Horn now resides in Rhode Island, where he continues to stay active in the community for the Worcester Red Sox and Boston Red Sox.

Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd

Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd was rafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 16th round of the 1980 amateur draft out of Jackson State University. The Meridian, MS native made his Major League debut for Boston in 1982 and won 16 games in 1986 as a critical member of the American League Championship team’s starting rotation. He was also the recipient of the Boston Red Sox Pitcher of the Year Award voted on by the Boston baseball Writers Association in 1985. Boyd would pitch for the Red Sox through the end of the 1989 season before moving on for stints with the Montreal Expos (1990-1991) and Texas Rangers (1992). Boyd also had two uncles who played baseball professionally— Robert Boyd played for the Kansas City Athletics and Memphis Red Sox of the Negro Leagues, and his Great Uncle Benjamin played for the Memphis Red Sox and Homestead Grays. Dennis resided in East Providence for years where he was always a fixture at PawSox games, and stays active in the community for both the Worcester Red Sox and Boston Red Sox.

Jim Rice

Jim Rice was the only player in the last 50 years of the International League to win the IL Triple Crown when he hit .337 along with 25 HR and 93 RBI in just 117 games for the 1974 Pawtucket Red Sox to lead the league in all three categories. He was one of only six players to capture the IL Triple Crown in the 132 years of the International League. Rice, who was Pawtucket’s all-time hitting leader with a .340 average, joined the PawSox late in the 1973 season (at the age of 20) and helped lead the club to the Governors’ Cup Championship and the Junior World Series title. He was the IL MVP in 1974 despite being promoted to Boston in mid-August. Rice ranks among the all-time Boston Red Sox leaders in at-bats (3rd), runs (4th), hits (3rd), doubles (6th), triples (6th), HR (3rd), RBI (3rd), walks (8th), slugging pct. (8th), and total bases (3rd) among others. An 8-time American League All-Star outfielder (1977-80, 83-86), Jim was enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2009. He was also a member of the first class of Red Sox Hall of Fame inductees in 1995 and was elected to the International League Hall of Fame in 2008.

Mo Vaughn

Mo Vaughn was a popular player for the PawSox for parts of three seasons (1990-92) and went on to a stellar 12-year Major League career with Boston (1991-98), Anaheim (1999-2000), and the New York Mets (2002-03). He finished his big league career with a .293 average along with 328 HR & 1064 RBI in 1512 games. Mo was a three-time American League All-Star with the Red Sox (1995, ’96 and ’98) and the American League MVP in 1995 when he hit .300 with 39 HR & 126 RBI. The “Hit Dog” followed that up with a sensational 1996 campaign for Boston batting .326 with career-highs of 44 HR & 143 RBI. Vaughn was chosen by the Red Sox in the 1st round of the 1989 draft. He spent all of 1990, at the age of 22, with the PawSox posting a .295 average with 22 HR & 72 RBI in 108 games. He would split the 1991 season between Pawtucket and Boston, returned briefly to Pawtucket in 1992 for 39 games, but then spent the rest of his career in the majors. From 1996-98 with the Red Sox he hit .315 or higher and averaged 40 homers and 118 RBI.

Jackie Bradley Jr.

Jackie Bradley Jr. was reacquired by the Boston Red Sox in a trade from the Milwaukee Brewers on December 1, 2021. Bradley Jr. has played in 1,007 major league games with the Red Sox (2013-20) and Brewers (2021), batting .230 with 104 home runs. A 2016 All-Star, he earned the Rawlings Gold Glove Award for center field in 2018 and was a finalist for the award in three other seasons (2014, ’16, ’19). Bradley helped the Red Sox win the 2018 World Series, as he was named Most Valuable Player of the American League Championship Series. Selected by the Red Sox in the supplemental round of the 2011 June Draft, Jackie was among the most popular players in Pawtucket Red Sox history while playing for the PawSox during parts of the 2013-15 and 2017 seasons. An active member of the community along with his wife, Erin, Bradley served as captain of the Red Sox Scholars program from 2016-20 and supported the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program.

Before more than 1,200 Worcester Public Schools Students, WooSox and Red Sox Stars Commemorate Jackie Robinson’s Birthday on the Eve of Black History Month 

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

Stories and lessons come from Josh Ockimey, Oil Can Boyd, and Rich Gedman.

WORCESTER, MA — In 1997, on the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s dismantling of Major League Baseball’s color barrier, Worcester Red Sox President Dr. Charles Steinberg, then Executive Vice President of the San Diego Padres, watched as a reporter kneeled next to a little girl to ask if she knew who Jackie was.

“I’ve heard of her, but I don’t exactly know what she did,” she replied.

The admission was innocent, but Steinberg worried. The perceived threat to Robinson’s memory galvanized him into establishing a tradition in 2003 with the Boston Red Sox, which he brought to Pawtucket and now Worcester: gathering with local students annually on Robinson’s birth date, January 31—also the eve of Black History Month—to celebrate Robinson’s legacy through the telling of stories and lessons. For the 20th consecutive year, the Hall of Famer’s legacy was celebrated by New England’s premier baseball teams.

Over 1,200 students from Worcester Public Schools, their teachers, and Worcester Superintendent Maureen Binienda tuned into Monday morning’s one-hour Zoom event, “A Celebration of Jackie Robinson.” The children, from more than a dozen schools, were all 4th, 5th, or 6th graders. They listened to WooSox star first baseman Josh Ockimey, WooSox hitting coach and Red Sox Hall of Famer Rich Gedman, former pennant-winning pitcher Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd, and businessman and civil rights leader Frank Jordan.

“The Red Sox have won four World Series since Jackie broke baseball’s color barrier [in 1947],” Steinberg said. “Can you imagine if the Boston Red Sox weren’t allowed to have David Ortiz on the team? No Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., or Xander Bogaerts?”

Segregation seems unimaginable today, but it was only 75 years ago that Black players couldn’t intermingle with white players on the baseball diamond. For more than a decade afterward, in many cities, Black players couldn’t stay at the same hotels or eat at the same restaurants as their white counterparts.

Ockimey—whom students gleefully and audibly welcomed—said he first comprehended the magnitude of Robinson’s influence in first grade, when his father taught him about the Negro Leagues and took him on a trip to Cooperstown. Ockimey was born in Philadelphia in 1995, long after Jim Crow laws dissipated, but he said that as a Black man in America, he often feels he must work twice as hard as everyone else.

Boyd, a fifth-generation professional ballplayer, reflected on his childhood in the ’60s and ’70s in Meridian, Mississippi.

“My whole family grew up playing baseball,” Boyd said. “I’d often hear names like Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson, and Cool Papa Bell, and I’d try to imitate them, too.”

Boyd played collegiately at Jackson State University before the Red Sox selected him in the 16th round of the 1980 amateur draft. The lithe and affable right-hander catapulted the Red Sox into the World Series in 1986 with a career-high 16 wins. His battery-mate was Gedman, Worcester’s own two-time All-Star and Red Sox Hall of Famer.

Like Boyd, Jordan grew up in the segregated South. He credited Robinson with giving him the belief that times would change. Now the co-founder of the Boston Area Church League and Special Advisor to the Red Sox for two decades, Jordan devotes himself to bringing positive change to Boston’s youth through baseball.

“Baseball as a sport has done so much to open the door of communication that bring people together,” Jordan said. “To the kids: Get to know your classmates. Get to know your friends. You will find that we all have so much in common. That is the best avenue to change the world and make it a better place.”

Gedman echoed the sentiment.

“[In a clubhouse], the most important thing is listening, to hear what other people think and feel,” Gedman said. “Sometimes we assume everyone thinks like we do. Everyone is a part of the team, and [in WooSox ’21], nobody thought they were more special than anyone else, and we went out and played like a team.”

Steinberg concluded the WooSox’ third annual event with the reminder that positive change takes time, courage, and a willingness to get involved, adding that it’s already in motion for women in baseball. He pointed to the New York Yankees’ recent hiring of Rachel Balkovec, baseball’s first woman manager. Days after, the Red Sox became the first organization to have two women coaches in their organization in Bianca Smith and Katie Krall.

“The next Jackie Robinson is going to be Jacqueline Robinson,” Steinberg said. “Women are great athletes who play their hearts out, and no woman should be deprived of playing baseball if she can play. You might just find that there’s a woman who can throw that ball with the best of them and run like the wind.”

Perhaps the future Jacqueline Robinson heard his words Monday.

Inaugural “WooSox Foundation Holiday Caravan” to Spread Joy Around Central Massachusetts this Week

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

Community Award Winners Josh Ockimey and Rich Gedman to join Smiley Ball, Woofster the WonderDog, and Santa in visits to charities.

WORCESTER, MA – Led by Josh Ockimey and Rich Gedman, two award-winning members of the Worcester Red Sox, the inaugural “WooSox Foundation Holiday Caravan” will visit charities from Leominster to Leicester and from Webster to Worcester this Wednesday through Friday, December 15-17.

Ockimey, the club’s first baseman and first-ever recipient of the WooSox Foundation’s “Heart of the Heart” award for community service, will team up with Gedman, his Hitting Coach, who won the charity’s inaugural eponymous “Geddy” award for his kindness and contributions to the community. Joining them are Mascots Smiley Ball and Woofster the WonderDog, along with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Last week, the WooSox were named Minor League Baseball’s CommUNITY Champion among all 120 teams in the United States and Canada.

The Caravan, funded by generous donors from our community, begins on Wednesday morning just blocks away from Polar Park in the Canal District at St. John’s Food for the Poor, where representatives of the WooSox Foundation will serve breakfast to those in need. Other stops in Worcester include Abby’s House and Why Me & Sherry’s House, which the Caravan will visit on Wednesday, and the Worcester Public Library and UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center, which will be visited on Friday.

Stretching northward, the Caravan continues to Leominster on Thursday afternoon, with a visit to the Spanish American Center, which focuses on social, educational, and economic support to the Hispanic and Latino communities.

Southward, the troupe will travel to Webster, Mass. on Wednesday afternoon, to bring gifts to the talented students in Our Bright Future’s after-school program, which supports students’ academic needs and pursuits of robotics, arts and crafts, and sports. The charity is based in neighboring Southbridge, Mass.

West of Worcester, early Wednesday evening the excursion visits Leicester, site of the McAuley Nazareth Home for Boys. Partnering with Double Play Sports, home of the Junior WooSox in AAU Baseball, the visitors will bring gifts and play games with the residents of the home team.

Addressing some of the needs at the eastern end of Central Massachusetts, the Caravan will also spend time with foster families from Framingham’s Department of Children and Families in conjunction with the Wonderfund. Care packages comprising toys and books, as well as clothing and toiletries, will be presented. Assembled by Kits for Kids of Marlborough, the gifts provide fun as well as everyday essentials to the children.

“As we head into the holidays, we find joy in bringing joy to some of those in need of a smile,” said WooSox President Dr. Charles Steinberg, who is also president of the club’s foundation. “We are thrilled that one of the stars of WooSox ’21, Josh Ockimey, is returning to his summer home to warm the hearts of children in winter. And we are delighted that our native son and WooSox Hitting Coach, beloved Red Sox Hall of Famer Rich Gedman, will bring gifts and love to these children as well. For each child, it is a moment and a memory that we hope impacts and improves their precious lives.”

Ockimey, 26, hit 15 home runs and knocked in 45 runs in only 98 games for the WooSox in 2021. The lefty slugger, who has been in the Red Sox system all eight years of his professional career, has hit 40 home runs with 102 RBI in 220 games his past two seasons in Triple-A. The Philadelphia native has consistently been among the team leaders in community appearances.

The WooSox Foundation awarded its first “Geddy Award” to the Worcester native for his devotion to baseball, commitment to the community, and kindness to all.

Smiley Ball, born on World Smile Day in 2020, pays tribute to the Smiley Face, invented in Worcester in 1963 by the late advertising executive, Harvey Ball. Woofster the WonderDog, whom Smiley Ball adopted as a rescue dog at the Worcester Animal Rescue League, debuted on National Dog Day in August of 2021.

Santa and Mrs. Claus are longtime fans, having sewn and distributed red socks throughout the world. They are most familiar with the concept of a Polar Park.

Minor League Baseball Announces 2021 CommUNITY Champion WooSox Capture Coveted Award from MiLB

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

NEW YORK CITY, Dec. 6, 2021 — Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) today announced the Worcester Red Sox as their 2021 CommUNITY Champion Award winner. Nominees from each league were selected by their peers and were candidates for the overall award.

(Left to Right) Dan Rea, WooSox Executive VP & GM, team President Dr. Charles Steinberg, and Brooke Cooper, Vice President Marketing, after the WooSox received Minor League Baseball’s CommUNITY Champion Award during the Baseball Winter Meetings in Orlando, FL.

CommUNITY Champion Award – Worcester Red Sox (Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox)

In their inaugural season in Worcester, the Worcester Red Sox took every opportunity available to become a valued member of their new community. Whether they were hosting baseball clinics for children, building awareness for charities or providing scholarship opportunities, the WooSox always went above and beyond.

Since the announcement in August 2018 that the Worcester Red Sox were moving to Polar Park, the valuable perspective of fans and community leaders has been instrumental in shaping the franchise’s goals and values. The WooSox show their appreciation for those in their community on a nightly basis, using pregame ceremonies like “Hometown Hero,” “Heart of Worcester” and the ceremonial first pitch to recognize and honor the contributions of community leaders and unsung heroes.

Their nightly “In Debt to a Vet” promotion honors the sacrifice and bravery of local veterans, and all fans are invited onto the playing field following Saturday and Sunday games to enjoy the Polar Park experience with a game of catch or running the bases with friends and family.

In celebration of the diverse identities and cultures of the City of Worcester, the team introduced “Los Wepas de Worcester” in 2021 and highlighted a different Spanish-speaking country in each of the Copa de la Diversion games. From Mexico to Puerto Rico to El Salvador, Polar Park transformed into a hub of that country’s local culture, music and food during “Los Wepas” games. Hispanic and Latinx leaders were honored in pregame ceremonies, the national anthem of the featured country was performed, local vendors were invited to sell their food at concession stands and the on-field “Worcester Red Sox” jerseys were replaced by “Los Wepas de Worcester” jerseys, with “Wepas” being a Spanish expression of excitement.

In an effort to strengthen the organization’s spirit of empathy and inclusion and create a clearer understanding of how they can make baseball more inclusive and celebratory of differences, the club played host to several events throughout the season. In July, the WooSox hosted “Autism Acceptance Night,” where the volume of public address announcements and music was turned down across the ballpark to reduce stimulation and highlighted Polar Park’s Unum Sensory Room, which offers a quiet space for fans to take a break on the comfortable couches, borrow noise-reduction headphones and play with kinetic sand, fidget spinners and coloring books. In August, “Peanut Allergy-Friendly Nights” were introduced to allow a safe, stress-free experience for fans with peanut allergies to enjoy a game at Polar Park, and in September “Deaf Awareness Night” included an interpreter on the videoboard to communicate pregame ceremonies, in-game promotions and PA announcements.

The WooSox took advantage of the extended season by supporting Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and “Going Gold” in September 2021. The WooSox put the spotlight on children, families and heroes who are helping to conquer cancer. Dressed in gold, children and families in the battle as well as their nurses and doctors gathered in center field in the shape of a ribbon as fans raised gold signs from the stands to honor loved ones who are currently in, or have lost, their battle with cancer. In their inaugural season, the team and the WooSox Foundation collectively donated over $50,000 to UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center, which works to treat and cure cancer and provide resources and comfort.

The WooSox Foundation also launched the “WooSox Scholars” Program to provide college scholarships to ensure young students’ dreams of education are funded. In July 2021, four Worcester Public Schools eighth graders stepped onto the field in front of a crowd of cheering fans and were presented with various gifts from the team and a certificate honoring their achievement. The WooSox have already invested $40,000 into the college funds of local students in just one season.

The WooSox introduced the “WooSox Book Nook” in the Worcester Public Library — a collection of baseball-themed books donated by WooSox President Dr. Charles Steinberg and WooSox Chairman of the Board Larry Lucchino. The Book Nook provides young readers a chance to learn the history of baseball and the power of sports in community while developing their reading skills.

“We are so happy, so proud, and so grateful to so many for recognizing the special bond between the Worcester Red Sox and the Greater Worcester community,” said Worcester Red Sox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “Larry Lucchino has established charitable foundations with every franchise he has led, and he has committed that we would be active participants in the community; we are thrilled to honor that commitment. In particular, our thanks go to the leaders and the residents of ‘The Heart of the Commonwealth.’ Their compassion and excitement inspire these synergistic collaborations. May this year, our rookie year, only be the beginning.”

WooSox to Preserve Pawtucket Tradition by Sending Two Kids from its Boys & Girls Club to The World Series

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

2021 marks 71st anniversary of tradition established in 1950 by longtime American League Umpire Hank Soar.

(Left to right) Juan Luis Torres Caquias, Jeremy Torres (13), Michael Cute (11), and Matthew Cute stop by Polar Park before heading to Atlanta to attend The World Series.
Tim Quitadamo/Worcester Red Sox

WORCESTER, MA – Continuing a Rhode Island tradition that dates back 71 years, the Worcester Red Sox will send a pair of youngsters from the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket on an all-expense-paid trip to see Games 3 and 4 of the 2021 World Series at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA, this Friday and Saturday night.

Michael Cute, 11, and Jeremy Torres, 13, will be accompanied by their fathers, Matthew Cute and Juan Luis Torres Caquias. Both families are from Pawtucket.

“These kids are going to remember this experience for the rest of their lives,” said Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket CEO, Jim Hoyt. “We’re grateful that the Worcester Red Sox are continuing this tradition that goes back decades, and that they haven’t forgotten about our kids in Pawtucket. It’s one of our favorite traditions.”

“I’ve had the pleasure of carrying on this amazing tradition for over three decades during my time in Pawtucket,” said WooSox Vice Chairman Mike Tamburro, the longtime president of the PawSox. “Now we get to continue this tradition from my hometown in Worcester and give them a proper send-off from our new home at Polar Park.”

The two children were randomly chosen during a Boys & Girls Club group outing at Polar Park this season. This year’s trip marks the 31st year that the franchise has sent two children from the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, each accompanied by a parent, to baseball’s Fall Classic.

The tradition began in 1950 when the New York Football Giants’ longtime running back, Hank Soar, became an American League baseball umpire. Soar, who grew up in Pawtucket and graduated from what is now Tolman High School, had been discovered umpiring by Central Mass native Connie Mack, the legendary owner and manager of the Philadelphia Athletics. After Soar established the annual tradition of providing tickets to a pair of children, the City of Pawtucket assumed the responsibility before passing the torch to the Pawtucket Red Sox in 1990. After completing 50 years in Rhode Island in 2020, the club is sending the students this year for the first time as the Worcester Red Sox.

“I am pleased to see this longstanding tradition continue,” said Mayor of Pawtucket Donald R. Grebien. “It means so much for our youth to be able to have this opportunity and I am glad that the WooSox will be continuing to provide this great experience.”

WooSox and Canal District Alliance Present Inaugural “Trick-Or-Treat at Polar Park”

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

Free event open to all, Sunday, October 31, 2-7 p.m.;

Free Disney movie, “Hocus Pocus,” to show on giant videoboard at 5. p.m.

 

WORCESTER, MA – Celebrating their first Halloween in their new neighborhood, the Worcester Red Sox are joining the Canal District Alliance to present the WooSox’ inaugural “Trick or Treat at Polar Park” on Sunday, October 31, from 2-7 p.m. There is no charge, and all are welcome.

Disney’s “Hocus Pocus” will entertain families on the giant left-field videoboard at 5 p.m., rain or shine. Fans can watch from inside the DCU Club or in outdoor seats.

Children can walk the WooSox Loop and receive candy throughout the ballpark from WooSox staff members. Mascots Smiley Ball and Woofster the WonderDog will be available for autographs, photographs, and lots of laughs. The typically blue ballpark will be dressed in seasonal decorations.

“All of us are excited that the WooSox are doing something fun for the neighborhood on Halloween,” said Amy Chase, Owner of Crompton Collective and Co-Vice President of the Canal District Alliance. “We hope that families and trick-or-treaters alike will be able to enjoy a fun-filled Sunday afternoon and evening in Worcester’s Canal District.”

“For years, we have looked forward to our first Halloween together at Polar Park,” said WooSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “Together with our friends and neighbors in the Canal District Alliance, we are eager to enjoy another October weekend that brings life, energy, and joy to this vibrant downtown neighborhood.”

The event will also feature the presentation of awards to fans who decorated pumpkins in the WooSox’ Inaugural “Polar Park Pumpkin Patch.” Fans are allowed to bring their entries right through Halloween.

WooSox are “Going Gold” for Childhood Cancer Awareness Night, Set for Friday, September 24, 6:35 PM

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

Resilience of those in the fight will be celebrated with pregame ceremony, in-game tribute, and postgame gold-themed fireworks show.

 

WORCESTER, MA – September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and the Worcester Red Sox will pay tribute by “going gold” for their final Friday night game at Polar Park this inaugural season, scheduled for September 24 at 6:35 PM. Gold ribbons will be painted on the field in foul territory, players will have the option of wearing gold wristbands, and more than 100 childhood cancer patients and their families will be invited to help form a human gold ribbon in the outfield during the WooSox’ pregame ceremonies. At the end of one inning, tentatively set for the 3rd inning, the players from both teams will hold gold placards, as will fans, media, and broadcasters, each inscribed with the name of someone who has been in the battle.

The families who are participating come to the WooSox via Dana-Farber’s Jimmy Fund Clinic, the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts & Rhode Island, the Tomorrow Fund, the UMass Memorial Health Cancer Center, and Why Me & Sherry’s House. All are community partners of the WooSox and the WooSox Foundation.

In advance of the night, the WooSox will present a check for more than $50,000 on Wednesday, September 22 to UMass Memorial Medical Center, the exclusive health care provider of the WooSox. On Friday, the WooSox Foundation will present another $10,000 to the Jimmy Fund Clinic. WooSox fans raised those funds at Polar Park in advance of last month’s Red Sox/ Jimmy Fund Radio Telethon on WEEI and NESN.

Worcester Red Sox Principal Owner and Chairman Larry Lucchino is the Chairman of the legendary Jimmy Fund. The Dana-Farber Institute has saved Lucchino’s life three times.

“It is part of our Red Sox ethos to partner with the Jimmy Fund, part of our Worcester ethos to partner with UMass Memorial, and part of our Pawtucket heritage to partner with the Tomorrow Fund,” Lucchino said. “We are also joining forces with local charities, such as Why Me? and Sherry’s Place, with more to come in the future. All of Red Sox Nation should be aware of the long history we have of fighting this cruel, miserable disease. We should be aware of the strides we have taken, the heroic research going on right now, and the miles we have to go before we conquer cancer.”

Fans will find the gold placards at their seat, and after writing the name of the person whom they want to remember or honor, they will rise as one at the end of the third inning. Fans with general admission tickets may pick up the placards and permanent markers at tables around the ballpark.

Following the game, the WooSox will present their final fireworks show of the season, gold-themed with inspiring music about perseverance, strength, and compassion from “Rocky,” Rachel Platten, and others. The fireworks spectacular is presented by UniBank.

The WooSox invite fans to help make Polar Park a sea of gold on Childhood Cancer Awareness Night and donate to the WooSox Foundation as part of its ongoing commitment to fight childhood cancer. Fans may donate by visiting marked tables around the ballpark, scanning the QR code located on the back of their gold placard, or by visiting woosoxfoundation.org. Tickets

for the game may be purchased online at polarpark.com, by phone at (508) 500-8888, or in person at the Polar Park Ticket Office at 100 Madison Street.

WooSox to Take Part in the Triple-A Final Stretch “Homers That Help” Campaign

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

Major League Baseball will donate $50 to Worcester’s Why Me & Sherry’s House for every WooSox Home Run hit between Wednesday, September 22 and Sunday, October 3.

 

WORCESTER, MA – The Worcester Red Sox conclude their inaugural season at Polar Park with a five-game homestand against the Rochester Red Wings that begins tomorrow evening on Wednesday, September 22 at 6:35pm. They will be joining all of the Triple-A clubs in the country by taking part in the “Homers That Help” campaign, as Major League Baseball donates $50 for every Home Run to a charity of the Triple-A club’s choice from Wednesday, September 22 through Sunday, October 3.

In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month the WooSox have selected Why Me & Sherry’s House to be the beneficiary of Major League Baseball’s generosity, and they will receive $50 for every WooSox Home Run hit during this time span. If the WooSox just so happen to lead all of Triple-A in Home Runs during this final stretch, Major League Baseball will donate an additional $5,000 to Why Me & Sherry’s House. Any ties for the overall leader will be broken by the team with the fewest number of at-bats among the teams that tied for the lead.

“We are grateful for Major League Baseball’s generosity and view the Homers that Help campaign as a time to recognize that September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month,” said Club President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “These funds will help local Worcester charities, Why Me & Sherry’s House, provide care and comfort to the families whose children are going through the storm. We celebrate their acts, and we thank MLB for providing such meaningful resources that will directly help the families of Worcester.”

Why Me is a Worcester Based non-profit organization created to help Central New England families cope with childhood cancer. WHY ME, which stands for Worcester Help for Youth, Memories Everlasting, has been providing support for families with children fighting cancer since 1985. They will be in attendance with other local non-profits at Polar Park for the club’s first-ever Childhood Cancer Awareness Night on Friday, September 24.

Sherry’s House is Why Me’s eight-bedroom residence in Worcester’s Tatnuck Square that opened in 2004, and serves as a home-away-from-home for families while their child is on active treatment. Additionally, Sherry’s House is proudly home to Why Me’s administrative offices, and hosts many events and activities throughout the year.

“We thank Major League Baseball and the WooSox for selecting our organization to be the recipient of the Homers That Help Campaign during the Triple-A final stretch,” said Danielle Sikonski, Director of Family Services. “This support will help Why Me to continue providing tangible support, financial assistance, fun outings and more to our families who have been affected by childhood cancer. We look forward to being in attendance at Polar Park this Friday for the WooSox’ Childhood Cancer Awareness Night.”

“Minor League Baseball teams have long been great community partners, and we are pleased to make a donation to each of these local charities on behalf of our Triple-A teams for their performance during the Triple-A Final Stretch,” said Major League Baseball’s Vice President, Minor League Operations and Development, Peter Woodfork. “These charities provide a variety of valuable services to their community, and it is our honor to recognize their efforts.”

WooSox to Host “Peanut Allergy-Friendly Nights” for both Tuesday Games in August at Polar Park

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

WooSox play the New York Mets’ Syracuse team August 10

and the New York Yankees’ affiliate in a twin bill August 17.

WORCESTER, MA – Addressing the desires of many families in Central Massachusetts, the Worcester Red Sox will present “Peanut Allergy-Friendly Nights” at Polar Park on Tuesday, August 10 and Tuesday, August 17. The club hopes to create a more comfortable opportunity for fans with peanut allergies to attend WooSox games at Polar Park.

Because the 2021 baseball schedule provides off days on Mondays, the WooSox are able to do a deep cleaning of the seating bowl, the concourses, and the DCU Level on the Mondays prior to each Peanut Allergy-Friendly Night. On each of those nights, the sale or consumption of peanut products will not be allowed.

The WooSox play the Syracuse Mets at 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday, August 10, and they play two games against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders starting at 4:35 p.m. on Tuesday, August 17. The Mets are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, and the RailRiders are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. The August 17 date is a resumption of a game suspended on July 17 and again on July 18, due to rain at Polar Park. The 9-inning game will resume in the top of the 6th inning with no score. It will be followed by the regularly-scheduled 9-inning game.

“We have attended Major League Baseball meetings and seminars that have heightened our awareness and enlightened us about the plight of families who need to be so cautious of peanuts and related allergens,” said WooSox Vice President of Marketing Brooke Cooper. “We were truly touched by how many families seek to come to baseball games if only they can be assured that the ballpark will be friendly to those with this serious allergy. We view these two dates as a pilot as we consider our plans for 2022. We welcome feedback at [email protected].”

Autism Acceptance Night presented by Unum – Early Entry Tours

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

As part of Autism Acceptance Night taking place on Saturday, July 31, the WooSox will offer early entrance paired with a Polar Park tour for families and groups with autistic individuals who plan to attend that evening’s game. Early entry will begin at 1:00 PM and can be accessed by Gate C. Fans will be required to show a ticket for that evening’s game, with the tour being a free addition, highlighting Polar Park’s sensory-friendly areas and accommodations. Fans can register by CLICKING HERE.

WooSox Bring Back Free Vaccines on Remaining Los Wepas de Worcester Nights

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

Club teams up with City of Worcester;

J&J vaccines will be available, along with Pfizer vaccines for ages 12-17

WORCESTER, MA – After partnering with the City of Worcester to successfully administer 275 vaccines at Polar Park earlier this season, the Worcester Red Sox will again make more vaccines available for fans at Polar Park during six of their remaining home games this season—all of which are “Los Wepas de Worcester” dates, when the WooSox change their uniforms and identity to enhance outreach to the Latino and Hispanic communities.

The games are this coming Tuesday, July 27 at 6:35 pm vs. Buffalo, Sunday, August 1 at 1:05 pm vs. Buffalo, Friday, August 13 at 6:35 pm vs. Syracuse, Saturday, August 14 at 4:05 pm vs. Syracuse, Wednesday, August 18 at 6:35 pm vs. Scranton/WB, and Tuesday, September 7 at 6:35 pm vs. Lehigh Valley.

Anyone who wishes to receive a vaccine during these select home games will be given a complimentary General Admission ticket to that day’s game at the Ticket Office, along with a free WooSox cap, and they’ll be guided by a WooSox ambassador to the concourse at Polar Park where the vaccines will be administered by City of Worcester health officials. Fans who already have tickets to these games and would like a vaccine can simply check in with any WooSox staff member when gates open.

“Roughly 35% of Worcester’s Hispanic and Latino population have been fully vaccinated here in the city, and we must continue to do everything we can to get our community vaccinated,” said Dr. Matilde Castiel, Commissioner of Health & Human Services for the City of Worcester. “We are grateful that the WooSox continue to open their doors at Polar Park for members of our community, and we also look forward to providing a vaccine for anyone who still needs to get a vaccine.”

The WooSox and the City of Worcester will now be offering a Pfizer vaccine for anyone ages 12 and older. When vaccines were administered at Polar Park during the club’s first homestand in June, only a one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine was available for those 18 and older, and the WooSox and City of Worcester look forward to using the Pfizer vaccine to reach a broader age group.

“We’re not out of the woods yet and we’re keeping an eye on the case count and of course the Delta variant,” said Mayor Joseph M. Petty. “Our response has been a whole-of-government response and that means engaging with our non-profit and business community, like our partners at the Worcester Red Sox, to make sure that everyone in our community is getting vaccinated. I want to thank Larry Lucchino and Dr. Steinberg for joining us in our commitment to getting through this pandemic.”

“These clinics at Polar Park couldn’t come at a more important time,” City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. said. “Our battle with the COVID-19 virus is not over, and the surging Delta variant is leading to increased cases across the country and here in Worcester. We need to do everything in our power to vaccinate as many people as possible, and we are extremely grateful to have a partner like the Worcester Red Sox who are equally committed to that mission. Polar Park was always meant to be more than a ballpark, and this is a terrific way to offer people both an entertaining night out and a chance to get vaccinated and protect themselves, their loved ones and our community as we continue to fight our way through this pandemic.”

“We hope we can increase the number of fans who protect themselves and their loved ones from the coronavirus,” said WooSox President, Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “We hope that our children and teens receive vaccinations before they return to school so that they can enjoy the full experience that so many missed in 2020.

“We are grateful for the partnership with the City of Worcester and its Department of Health and Human Services. These city officials have been heroic in their efforts to reach out and find those who can still benefit from this desperately-needed vaccine. We are happy to provide it when the community comes together for an evening or afternoon of baseball at Polar Park.”

On Tuesday, May 4 the Seattle Mariners became the first Major League Baseball team in the country to offer vaccines for their fans during games at T-Mobile Park, and successfully administered 160 shots during their game against the Baltimore Orioles. The WooSox were proud to be among the first Minor League Baseball teams in the country to administer vaccines to their fans during games at Polar Park in the beginning of June.

¡Wepa! is a Spanish expression of excitement and happiness. The concept of naming the team after the popular phrase came from Worcester resident Daniel Velazquez at a WooSox Fan Plan Meeting on February 13, 2020 at Centro Inc. in Worcester.

UMass Memorial Health, the official healthcare provider of the Worcester Red Sox, will have paramedics on site as they do for every WooSox home game to offer any support needed.

For more information and further questions, please contact WooSox Vice President of Baseball Operations & Community Relations, Joe Bradlee ([email protected]).

WooSox to offer vaccines for fans during first June homestand

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

Club teams up with Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center; 50 J&J vaccines will be available at every game this week at Polar Park.

 

WORCESTER, MA – After successfully administering 214 vaccines at Polar Park on Tuesday, May 25, the WooSox today announced they will make vaccines available for fans at Polar Park during the club’s second homestand, their first without COVID-19 capacity restrictions. The program is in partnership with Worcester’s Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center.

“We are proud to be among the first Triple-A teams in the country to offer vaccines for fans during our ballgames,” said WooSox President, Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “We look forward to continuing to do our part to inspire more people to become vaccinated in the City of Worcester and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”

Fans who receive a Johnson & Johnson vaccine at Polar Park will be given a complimentary General Admission ticket to that day’s game, along with a WooSox cap, and must be at least 18 years of age. Staff from the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center will administer the vaccines on the first base concourse at Polar Park on a first-come, first-served basis.

“The City of Worcester has made great strides in getting as many people as possible vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus,” Worcester City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. said. “This partnership between the Worcester Red Sox and the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center is another terrific example of the collaborative efforts that have helped to ensure that every single resident has the opportunity to get vaccinated. This is the team spirit that Worcester is all about.”

On Tuesday, May 4 the Seattle Mariners became the first Major League team in the country to offer vaccines for their fans during games at T-Mobile Park, and successfully administered 160 shots during their game against the Baltimore Orioles. The WooSox would join the Columbus Clippers among Triple-A clubs administering vaccines to their fans during games.

UMass Memorial Health, the official healthcare provider of the Worcester Red Sox, will have EMTs on site as they do for every WooSox home game to offer any support needed.

Anyone who wishes to be vaccinated at Polar Park will be escorted to the first base concourse by a WooSox Ambassador upon receiving their complimentary General Admission ticket at the Ticket Office. Fans who already have tickets to this week’s slate of games and would like a vaccine can simply check in with the Kennedy Health Center staff members after the gates open. Those who do will receive a General Admission ticket to a future 2021 home game.

“We are pleased to be able to expand our reach beyond our health center doors to help ensure that anyone who wants the COVID-19 vaccine can get it safely, easily and for free,” said

Kennedy Community Health President and CEO Stephen J. Kerrigan. “Working in partnership with area organizations like Polar Park and the WooSox will boost our efforts to make the vaccine readily available.”

Vaccines will be available at Polar Park through Sunday, June 6 for the club’s entire six-game homestand against the Rochester Red Wings, and will explore the possibility of making more vaccines available at more games this summer.

For more information and further questions, please contact WooSox Vice President of Baseball Operations & Community Relations, Joe Bradlee or the Kennedy Health Center’s Vice President of Advancement, Paula Green.